Padres hope Stauffer can rebound against the Mets

Tim Stauffer tries to bounce back from one of the worst game set with the Florida Marlins at Petco Park.

Stauffer lasted just three innings in a loss in Cincinnati on Saturday, as he allowed nine runs and seven hits. He also served up five home runs and fell to 7-9 on the year, while ballooning his earned run average to 3.53.

"You never expect to be embarrassed out there," said Stauffer, who had given up five home runs in his previous eight starts. "That's what happened."

Stauffer tossed six scoreless innings to beat the Marlins earlier in the year and is 1-0 with a 1.88 ERA against them in three games (two starts).

The right-handed former first round pick will be helping the Padres bounce back following a series loss to the New York Mets that culminated with a 7-3 loss in Wednesday's finale.

Aaron Cunningham, Nick Hundley and Alberto Gonzalez each had RBI doubles for the Padres, while Mat Latos (6-12) allowed three runs on four hits over six innings to suffer the loss.

Florida, meanwhile, lost for the fourth time in five tries on Wednesday in Colorado, falling 12-5 to the Rockies. Jose Lopez and Mike Stanton both homered in the loss for the Marlins.

Ricky Nolasco (9-9) was awful surrendering 11 runs and 11 hits in only three innings.

Hoping for better results tonight the Marlins will send Javier Vazquez to the hill in search of his first win in four starts. Vazquez was charged with the loss on Saturday against San Francisco, as he allowed three runs and five hits in seven innings. He is 7-10 on the year with a 4.68 ERA.

Vazquez lost to the Padres back on July 21 and is 5-5 lifetime against them with a 3.26 ERA in 18 starts.

The Padres swept a three-game set from the Marlins back in July and have won nine of their last 12 overall against them.